I'm watching Rachel Maddow's coverage of President Obama's speech in the Middle East earlier today. She had the same reactions: DUDE! I can't believe he said that! Did he really SAY that???
Maddow pointed out that, while Obama didn't announce any new policy, the things he brought up and the way he talked about them have potential to re-set the dialogue on the many problems arising in that region. Among what Maddow called the "third rails" Obama grabbed in the speech: disapproving Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories; smacking Palestinian groups for firing random missiles into those settlements; U.S. torture of detainees; Iraq as a "war of choice"; and admitting U.S. involvement in Iran's 1953 coup - which I don't think we've ever admitted. Read the full transcript here.
I anticipate that the criticism of Obama's remarks will come from people angry that he said these things on foreign soil. But what's wrong with meeting your enemy on his turf if nothing else has worked? Acknowledgment is not the same as apology.
It's obviously too soon to tell, but I think this could be a real "Nixon goes to China" moment for this president. But if the history of U.S. involvement in the Middle East has taught us anything, it's that we can't assume anything is a done deal.
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